A Famous Friend

Chris Young Café celebrates entertainer’s gifts to his alma mater and provides a practice lab for students

story by Gina Fann and Carol Stuart with photos by Andy Heidt and J. Intintoli

Multiplatinum recording artist Chris Young hasn’t forgotten his roots as a former student at MTSU or as someone who grew up in Murfreesboro. While Young’s latest hit pays homage to his “Famous Friends” back in Rutherford County—the football hero, the “life of every party,” a sheriff, a preacher, the teacher of the year— the singer-songwriter continues to invest in students following in his footsteps at his hometown university.

Young even performed the song live for the first time when he christened the stage at the new Chris Young Café on campus in January. Continuing to serve as a benefactor to MTSU, Young made a generous gift to turn the former dining facility into a College of Media and Entertainment learning lab by day and an entertainment venue by night.

An eye-catching “Famous Friends” mural and a Tennessee Music Pathways tourism marker also were unveiled outside the café at the livestreamed grand opening.

“I studied jazz, I studied . . . how to sing in multiple languages,” Young said, “and . . . I wouldn’t have the breadth of musical knowledge that I do, sing the way I do, and know some of the people that I know, if not for this University.”

Inside the facility, students will learn skills from nearly every facet of entertainment: music business, audio production, songwriting, venue management, sound reinforcement, lighting, and rigging.

The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project, a major donor to MTSU’s Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, also gave $10,000 for a Daniels/Young scholarship for veterans.

Young has maintained his True Blue ties since his time at MTSU in 2005. He donated touring audio equipment in 2012 and funded a Recording Industry scholarship in 2016.

A famous friend, indeed.

From dining hall to performance hall

• custom LED video wall for Media Arts

• state-of-the-art audio and lighting control boards

• 2 club-style seating areas and a VIP-type zone

• performance venue and teaching/rehearsal space

• mics, soundboards, amps, and more from Young’s tours

• 240-person capacity

• opened as Woodmore cafeteria in 1963

• reopened as the Cyber Café in 1999

“THE CHRIS YOUNG CAFÉ WILL ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO DREAM BIGGER.” — MTSU PRESIDENT SIDNEY A. MCPHEE

“WHETHER THEY ARE MUSICIANS, COMEDIANS, ENTERTAINERS, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO . . . ENGINEER AND PRODUCE, VIDEOGRAPHERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, ANYTHING, I HOPE EVERYONE FINDS A USE FOR THIS SPACE.” —CHRIS YOUNG Young accomplishments

Tennessee Music Pathways now has two heritage markers on campus—with the other at MTSU’s Center for Popular Music.

Generations Before

Young’s mother, Becky Harris (’84), an MTSU alumna and MTSU Foundation board member, is involved in the music business as founding partner at Huskins- Harris Business and was awarded an honorary Recording Industry professorship at the grand opening. Young’s grandfather, Richard Yates, performed on the Louisiana Hayride.

•Young accomplishments

• 3 billion+ on-demand streams

• 13 million singles sold

• 11 career No. 1 singles

• 28 gold and platinum records

• RCA Nashville country artist • Grand Ole Opry member

• 2 Grammy nominations

Young and his mother, MTSU alumna and music business entrepreneur Becky Harris (’84), join University and state officials at the ribbon-cutting in front of the “Famous Friends” mural. Professor Leslie Haines (Visual Communication) designed the artwork in collaboration with colleague Jonathan Coulter Trundle (Photography). See who's on the mural at mtsu.edu/muralkey